Name:____________________________Date:____________Period:___
Reflect and Apply
Weight of the World
Before you can accomplish this activity, you need to collect the results from each
of the other groups in the class. It is very important (vital) that each group have
used the same object. A convenient area is below to assist you.
# of Strands
1
# of Objects to Collapse the Bridge
Grp 1 ____ Grp 2 ____ Grp 3 ____ Grp 4 _____
Grp 5 ____ Grp 6 ____ Grp 7 ____ Grp 8 _____
2
Grp 1 ____ Grp 2 ____ Grp 3 ____ Grp 4 _____
Grp 5 ____ Grp 6 ____ Grp 7 ____ Grp 8 _____
3
Grp 1 ____ Grp 2 ____ Grp 3 ____ Grp 4 _____
Grp 5 ____ Grp 6 ____ Grp 7 ____ Grp 8 _____
5
Avg. _____
Grp 1 ____ Grp 2 ____ Grp 3 ____ Grp 4 _____
Grp 5 ____ Grp 6 ____ Grp 7 ____ Grp 8 _____
4
Avg. _____
Grp 1 ____ Grp 2 ____ Grp 3 ____ Grp 4 _____
Grp 5 ____ Grp 6 ____ Grp 7 ____ Grp 8 _____
Avg. _____
Avg. _____
Avg. _____
Now create a table that contains the number of strands for a bridge and the
average of the number of objects it took to collapse the bridge.
Name the object you used for weight: _______________
Thickness
of bridge
Average #
of Objects
SATEC/Algebra I/Foundations of Functions/Weight of the World R&A
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Make a scatterplot of the data. Remember to provide a label and scale for each
axis.
1. Write a model that describes the relationship between the number of
strands of spaghetti in the bridge and the number of objects necessary to
collapse the bridge.
____________________________________________________
2. Calculate the number of objects needed to collapse a bridge that is
a.
7 strands thick: ______
b. 9.5 strands thick: ______
c. 20 strands thick: ______
d. 50 strands thick: ______
3. Calculate the number of strands necessary in a bridge to withstand the
stress of
a.
95 objects: ______
b.
500 objects: ______
c.
2000 objects: ______
d. 100,000 objects: ______
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4. A model bridge made of super thin spaghetti collapses based on the table
below:
Name the object you used for weight: _Quarters_
Thickness of
bridge
Average # of
Objects
1
2
3
4
5
2
4
6
8
10
a. Write a model that describes the relationship between the number of
strands of spaghetti and the number of quarters needed to collapse the
bridge.
__________________________________________________
b. How many strands of spaghetti would it take to make a $1,000,000
bridge? (If a bridge had to hold up $1,000,000 in quarters, how many
strands would be needed?) Explain how you obtained your answer.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
______________________________
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